
6.
What future did God predict for
both Ishmael and Isaac? Gen. 17:
19-21.
The Supreme Test
7.
What command came to Abra-
ham regarding this son in whom so
much hope rested? Gen 22:1, 2.
NOTE.—"God had called Abraham to be
the father of the faithful, and his life was
to stand as an example of the faith to suc-
ceeding generations. But his faith had not
been perfect. He had shown distrust of God
in concealing the fact that Sarah was his
wife, and again in his marriage with Hagar.
That he might reach the highest standard,
God subjected him to another test, the
closest which man was ever called to en-
dure. In a vision of the night he was di-
rected to repair to the land of Moriah, and
there offer up his son as a burnt offering
upon a mountain that should be shown
him.
"At the time of receiving this command,
Abraham had reached the age of a hundred
and twenty years. He was regarded as an
old man, even in his generation. In his
earlier years he had been strong to endure
hardship and to brave danger, but now the
ardor of his youth had passed away. One in
the vigor of manhood may with courage
meet difficulties and afflictions that would
cause his heart to fail later in life, when
his feet are faltering toward the grave. But
God had reserved His last, most trying test
for Abraham until the burden of years was
heavy upon him, and he longed for rest
from anxiety and
toil."—Patriarchs and
Prophets,
page 147.
8.
How promptly did Abraham
obey? Gen 22:3.
NoTE.—"Isaac was the light of his home,
the solace of his old age, above all else the
inheritor of the promised blessing. The loss
of such a son by accident or disease would
have been heart-rending to the fond father;
it would have bowed down his whitened
head with grief ; but he was commanded to
shed the blood of that son with his own
hand. It seemed to him a fearful impossi-
bility. . . .
"In his doubt and anguish he bowed
upon the earth, and prayed, as he had never
prayed before, for some confirmation of
the command if he must perform this ter-
rible duty. . . . But none came to his relief.
Darkness seemed to shut him in; but the
command of God was sounding in his ears,
`Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac,
whom thou lovest.' That command must
be obeyed, and he dared not delay. Day was
approaching, and he must be on his
jour-
ney."—Patriarchs and Prophets,
page 148.
9.
What factors show that Isaac
had learned both faith and obedience?
Gen. 22:5-10.
NOTE.—"At the appointed place they
built the altar and laid the wood upon it.
Then, with trembling voice, Abraham un-
folded to his son the divine message. It was
with terror and amazement that Isaac
learned his fate, but he offered no resistance.
He could have escaped his doom, had he
chosen to do so ; the grief-stricken old man,
exhausted with the struggle of those three
terrible days, could not have opposed the
will of the vigorous youth. But Isaac had
been trained from childhood to ready, trust-
ing obedience, and as the purpose of God
was opened before him, he yielded a willing
submission. He was a sharer in Abraham's
faith, and he felt that he was honored in
being called to give his life as an offering
to God. He tenderly seeks to lighten the
father's grief, and encourage his nervous
hands to bind the cords that confine him
to the
altar."—Patriarchs and Prophets,
page 152.
10.
How did God spare father and
son this supreme ordeal? Gen. 22:11,
12.
NOTE.—"Heavenly beings were witnesses
of the scene as the faith of Abraham and
the submission of Isaac were tested. The
trial was far more severe than that which
had been brought upon Adam. Compliance
with the prohibition laid upon our first
parents involved no suffering, but the com-
mand to Abraham demanded the most
agonizing sacrifice. All heaven beheld with.
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